Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha
मराठी मूळ
चांगला तरी पूर्णकाम । गोड तरी याचें चि नाम । दयाळ तरी अवघा धर्म । भला तरी दासा श्रम होऊं नेदी ॥1॥
उदार तरी लIमीयेसी । जुंझार तरी किळकाळासी । चतुर तरी गुणांची च रासी । जाणता तयासी तो एक ॥ध्रु.॥
जुनाट तरी बहु काळा । न कळे जयाची लीळा । नेणता गोवळीं गोवळा । लाघवी अवळाभुलवणा ॥2॥
खेळतो येणें चि खेळावा । नट तो येणें चि आवगावा। लपोनि जीवीं न कळे जीवा । धरितां देवा नातुडेसी ॥4॥
उंच तरी बहुत चि उंच । नीच तरी बहुत चि नीच । तुका ह्मणे बोलिलों साच। नाहीं अहाच पूजा केली ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If one speaks of someone truly excellent, He is perfectly fulfilled. If one speaks of sweetness, His Name alone is sweet. If one speaks of compassion, He is all righteousness. If one speaks of goodness, He does not let His servants suffer. If one speaks of generosity, His is the generosity that Lakshmi herself serves. If one speaks of a warrior, He fights Death itself. If one speaks of cleverness, He is a treasury of virtues. The one who truly knows, He alone is that one. If one speaks of ancientness, He is older than time, His play beyond comprehension. Among the cowherds, He was an innocent cowherd; yet He is the most skillful trickster and enchanter. He plays the game only in this manner. He is such an actor. Hiding within the soul, He is unknown to the soul itself; when you try to grasp Him, He eludes you. If one speaks of height, He is immeasurably high. If one speaks of lowliness, He is immeasurably low. Says Tuka, I have spoken the truth; this is no flattering worship.
This translation is auto-generated and may contain errors. We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram’s original Marathi.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
More in this theme →Continue exploring